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Everything you need to know about cannabis legalization in Canada

After years of debate, hundreds of pages in legislation, and several last-minute policy changes, Canadians will at last be able to legally blaze up starting Oct. 17, after the Senate approved recreational use of the drug in June.

In advance of the fall date, we pored through government websites, read the fine print of provincial regulations, and consulted expert studies to answer some questions you might have about cannabis.

Cannabis is a psychoactive drug derived from the plant of the same name. People mainly use cannabis either by smoking it like a cigarette or through a bong, or ingesting it via edibles.

Why do people use it?

People smoke or ingest pot mainly for mental and physical stimulation. Marijuana’s primary effect is the “high” sensation it induces. The quality and type of high you achieve depends on the strain you use. Indica strains are known to cause a more relaxing, sedative effect (like a sleepytime tea, but better). Sativa strains are usually used to experience a more uplifting, energizing high. Both strains can lead to a heightened sense of consciousness, a change in the user’s mood, and worst of all, the munchies. Have some snacks ready.

Most people smoke pot as a form of relaxation or to elevate experiences such as concerts, festivals, performances. Others may also use it for medicinal purposes, such as pain control. It’s known to lessen the effects of chronic pain.

How can I tell if something is cannabis?

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The best test is by sight and smell. Cannabis comes in different forms. It’s most commonly bought as bud, which look like a collection of dried leaves and stems clumped together with a greenish-grey to brown hue. It has a mild skunkish scent that intensifies when it’s lit. It’s not pleasant, but not overwhelming in large spaces. It can feel slightly sticky when you pull it apart.

It can also come in a more concentrated form, called hashish or “hash” for short. Hash is a resin version that is usually bought in solid form or as a paste-like substance with varying hardness and pliability. It’s colour is most often light to dark brown. Hashish is usually consumed through smoking, by using a bong, pipe, joint or vaporizer.

What is the Cannabis Act (Bill C-45)?

The Cannabis Act (Bill C-45) is the new law that will allow Canadians over the age of 18 to purchase and use cannabis. Adults will be able to buy fresh or dried cannabis, cannabis oil, plants and seeds.

Adults will be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis in public, share up to the same amount with other adults, and cultivate up to four plants at home (with a maximum of four per household). However, you can’t transport any cannabis product over an international border.

When does the Act come into effect?

Recreational use of cannabis becomes legal on Oct. 17; until then, however, prohibition laws will continue to be enforced, according to the federal government. “It is important to state that up front,” Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said in June.

Use of the drug for medicinal purposes (which means the user is authorized by a health professional and is registered with a licensed producer) is still allowed. Medical marijuana has been legal in Canada since 2001.

What about edibles?

Edibles are food products infused with cannabis (brownies, chips, fruit bars, almond milk, etc.). Provided that no “dangerous organic solvents” are used in the process, people will be able to make edibles for personal use.

What are the health effects of cannabis use?

Aside from euphoric sensations, cannabis can also cause some negative and “unwanted” effects on a user’s health. According to the government, short-term effects include confusion, anxiety, sleepiness and psychotic episodes. It can also make the user forget things, impair their ability to concentrate, and — if smoked — damage their blood vessels.

In the long term, the government also says cannabis use can harm your lungs, diminish your ability to think and make decisions, lower your IQ, and cause you to become addicted to the substance.

Is it OK to drive while high on cannabis?

No. It will be considered impaired driving, and can cause injury or death to you or others. Law enforcement officers are trained to detect drug-impaired driving, and will administer a roadside sobriety test and conduct a series of urine and blood tests. Offenders could face fines and a licence suspension, as they would with alcohol. Regulations imposed under Kathleen Wynne’s government mean zero tolerance for young or novice drivers — those under 21, or who only carry a G1, G2, M1 or M2 class licence.

A first offence will see a three-day licence suspension and a $250 fine, a second offence would see a seven-day suspension and a $350 fine, and any subsequent offence would see a 30-day suspension and a $450 fine. Mandatory education or treatment programs might be required for repeat offenders.

The same restrictions are in place for commercial drivers.

Can building management ban cannabis use inside apartment units?

According to Ontario’s legislation, you’ll be able to use cannabis in a private residence (which includes your porch or backyard) or in your unit in an apartment building. If you’re renting, it’s possible that your landlord will have a smoking ban in place in your lease.

If your current lease prohibits smoking in your unit, then it is likely that will cover cannabis, too. However, if there’s no smoking ban already in place, your landlord can’t add one when the law comes into effect in October. Landlords can only change leases once a lease agreement has ended, so the clause could be included in a future lease if you move.

Where can I purchase cannabis in Ontario?

Premier Doug Ford unveiled plans on Aug. 13 to open up sales of recreational cannabis to private stores by April 1. The move reverses a plan by Ford’s predecessor, Kathleen Wynne, who had committed to selling cannabis through provincially owned Ontario Cannabis Store outlets, modelled on LCBO stores. Until the private retail system is in place, the Ontario Cannabis Store website will be the only legal source for recreational pot in the province. The Ontario Cannabis Store is also slated to be the only wholesale distributor for private retailers.

The province announced new legislation on Sept. 26 that will not cap the number of brick-and-mortar stores allowed starting April 1. Municipalities have until Jan. 22 to decide whether they want to ban pot shops within their boundaries.

Will rules around sale and use be different in each province and territory? If I live in one province, will I be able to buy from another?

Each province and territory has the ability to set its own rules but will still have to adhere to basic minimum requirements under the Cannabis Act. This means that, for example, provinces will be able to set their own minimum age of legal consumption, so long as it is above 18, which is the federal requirement. Aside from the legal minimum age, provinces can regulate where you can buy it, where you can use it and how much you can possess at any given time.

Where to buy: Initially to be sold in NWT Liquor Commission stores; government has left door open to private sales in future.

Can I grow my own? Up to four per household.

Where can I smoke? Prohibited around places used by children and where tobacco use is already not allowed. People will be able to use in some public spaces, like trails and parks, but not while they are being used for public events.

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